87-year-old Woman Abused by Nun As Teen Joins NYC Protest to Support Child Victims Act

By Catherina Gioino
New York Daily News
April 12, 2018

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/woman-abused-nun-teen-joins-fight-child-victims-act-article-1.3930932

Cecilia Springer, 87, talks about how a nun abused her when she was a teenager at the Notre Dame School of Manhattan. (HOWARD SIMMONS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

An 87-year-old woman abused by a nun when she was a teenager rallied Thursday with other sex abuse survivors for legislation that would let them seek justice as adults.

Cecilia Springer said she was abused by her high school principal at St. Ursula, which runs the Notre Dame School of Manhattan — a private, Catholic secondary school for girls in the city.

Springer said her abuser was transferred to a different school at the end of that school year.

“I never told anyone so she was never reported,” Springer said. “I know of other people that she attempted to abuse.”

Springer (bottom l.) joined other survivors and advocates at a protest rally to fight for the passage of the Child Victims Act outside Zurich Insurance Group in Lower Manhattan. (HOWARD SIMMONS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

Springer joined a group of survivors and advocates outside Zurich Insurance Group in Lower Manhattan to protest the insurance industry’s quiet lobby effort against the Child Victims Act.

The bill would give abuse victims more time to bring criminal and civil lawsuits and treat public and private institutions the same when it comes to child sex abuse.

It would also create a one-year window for victims to revive older cases that are barred under the current statute of limitations.

Protesters rallied outside the Zurich Insurance Group in Lower Manhattan to protest the company's lobby efforts against passage of the Child Victims Act. (HOWARD SIMMONS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

With the support of Gov. Cuomo and legislative Democrats, survivors had hoped the measure would be included in the recently enacted state budget. But ultimately, it was blocked again by the state Senate Republicans.

“Just the thought of young people being abused by people ... without this bill, they’re just going to keep on doing it,” Springer said. “My perp is dead .... We have to get them off the street.”

Dennis Poust, spokesman for the state Catholic Conference headed by Dolan, said that “child abuse is a horrific act and we urge (Springer) to report the abuse as soon as possible, if she has not already done so.”

The Church supports extending the statute of limitations on criminal and civil sexual abuse cases going forward, but vehemently opposes a window to revive old cases.